Interesting...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123612836110424527.html

My Rotary club got a mention in the Wall St Journal yesterday! HORRAY! The interesting and unexpected part of this was that several people from long ago contacted me as I am mentioned in the article. I was able to catch up with some great people.

Glam time!

It is that time of year again, our annual Rotary President's Ball! Great shots of Mark, Karolina Tony and myself!

Glam time!

Valentine's Day ~ EARLY!

WOW check this out!

My honey was having a dreadful day BUT he went to some secret florist and got me this BEAUTIFUL arrangement and chocolate and a cool card that plays "sugar pie hug a bunch, you know that I love you (love you) I can't help myself..." OK I like changing the words a little but I must say, HONEY ROCKS!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Now I better call over to the place where I ordered his gift and check on shipping so that I am not the Valentine's Day horse's rear...

COOL!

Weird week #2

Weird week #2

Last week was a very odd week. Big highs and big lows.

This is weird week #2. I have, and I AM completely bragging here, cranked though our annual audit at lightening speed. Normally the CPAs are on site for 5 business days and then back in the shop for about three more. This time, 2.5 days on site! YEA! Now part of this is personal motivation, I want to refi my mortgage and with the new standards, they want my 2008 tax returns. Since I am part owner of the business, first we have to do the audit, then the business tax return, then mine! Thus we need to move fast!!! This was a high point.

Low, it is Friday and we are still stuck on a prepaid account and they haven't finished the draft for me to approve and then we can move to the business taxes, etc.. ARRRRRR.

High, Sunday I went shopping for a small gift for a friend who is pregnant. FUN found a great eco friendly spot with WONDERFUL things.

Low, my friend, who btw will be the best mom EVER, lost the baby. My heart just sank. I am so sorry and sad.

High, Found a great price on a new dress for a formal in Feb.

Low, put on about 15 lbs over the past year thanks to the Friggin' thyroid and adrenal issues. Thus joined WW online and now count the number of blueberries I eat.

Low, Honey (see photo above of Honey in balloon with another balloon in background) has neglected to give me photos of us on the hot air balloon ride we took while on vacation in Napa

High, I told him that a framed one would make a nice Valentine's Day gift.

High, my fireplace mantle and built in bookcases and cabinet in bathroom are under construction right now.

Low, scared to see the messes and I pray the job is done well.

High, found out about 5 more jobs to bid! (I don't care to participate in the recession)

Low, sitting on my hands until audit is over... grrrr...

High, got my #1 choice for student from Fiji and will be her host family for next year.

Low, I can't tell her and invite her to our reception in Fiji until the program officially tells her!

Overall, I will take the weird week. Life is good right now.

Hard Job...

I think that I have worked my tail off in very odd surroundings.

When I was 11, I became a 1st degree black belt.  I progressed on to other ranks including that of an instructor.  When others were working fast food, at 14 my first job was as a martial arts instructor.  As I aged, it really didn't do much for my dating life as 16 - 25 year old males seem to be a bit intimidated by a woman that can whip them into shape if they get out of line.  Still a hard job to have.

I went to college with an 11 - 1 male female ratio.  I was one of the only females and team leaders when I got out into the consulting world and frequently was mistaken for the admin.  A challenging but still hard job.

I am now a single female roofer that gets exposure to an extraordinary amount of odd circumstances.  Weird at times and another hard job.

I am an owner of a small business.  This comes with a crazy amount of stress.  This is a very hard job.

But this week, I finally got the news that my very good friend is pregnant!!!!!  OUTSTANDING.  She and her husband are some of the most qualified people on the planet to be the best parents ever.  But when I really think about it, this takes the cake for hard jobs.  They have worried and had a struggle to get where they are right now and I know that they will be the exact people who, no matter what, will never see parenting as a hard job.  They will always see it as the most important job they do.  Today, my hat is off to them!!  

I was the wife of a horrible man.  This also was a hard job.

Atlanta Pet Rescue...

This is a photo of part of my desk in my office.

As you can see, I have a lot of paperwork the plow through.

Also as you can see, I have a little miss sunshine who helps me through it.

Madison came to me through Atlanta Pet Rescue www.atlantapetrescue.org They are a no kill shelter that will take trouble cases and dogs from kill shelters. I am also a fan of the Atlanta Humane Society (Snapper, Princess and Laddy all came from them) however I want to shed light on Atlanta Pet Rescue as they are a much smaller facility and do not put any dog down unless it is in the name of mercy as the dog is in agony and a vet recommends it.

Visit the website and if you are feeling kind, offer a few bucks up to them. I do both regularly as they gave me a gift in Madison and I know they have given many gifts of joy to many people.

Update: yes both Max and I are doing much better since Friday and the passing of Snapper. We will always keep him in our hearts.

Duck Duck Duck it is the iphone AAAARRRR

I sent this email out yesterday:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

1. I don’t think Snapper is coming home. Will know within 24 hrs.
2. Max is stressed about snapper not being at home, just passed blood, I now have to hospitalize him. His IBD is all flared up.
3. I tried to type the f*bomb in a text to my sister telling her of this news and my iphone tries to correct my text and keeps substituting DUCK DUCK DUCK in for … well you know.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

It is official, I will have to help Snapper finally be at peace today. Above is an old Xmas photo of my original pack (Snapper, Princess, Brownie and Laddy). He will be joining them again.

But just rats... if I were blogging this on my iphone knowing that it doesn't use certain language, I might say something like... Oh shot. Bad ducking day.

LOL in spite of the circumstance, I think that is really funny!